Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

About: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is a education organization based out in Springfield, Illinois, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 3747 authors who have published 5977 publications receiving 209115 citations. The organization is also known as: SIU School of Medicine.

Adaption of team learning to an introductory graduate pharmacology course.

Abstract: Background: Team-learning experiences within a large group setting have a variety of educational applications. Description: Aspects of the team-learning process were introduced into the endocrine pharmacology unit of an introductory graduate pharmacology course. Each session involved both a faculty lecture and student participation in problem-solving exercises. Curriculum design, small group assignments, instructional materials, small group activities, assessment, student opinions, and cost-benefit considerations were evaluated. Evaluation: The effects of team-learning strategies on student participation during class, preparation before class, and student perception were examined using a student feedback instrument, instructor perceptions, and comparison of student performances in the unit and the course, as well as personal interviews with students. Conclusion: The use of team learning was appreciated by the students and instructor. Students strongly believed that the team-learning component improved the...

Puberty is delayed in male growth hormone receptor gene-disrupted mice.

Abstract: The role of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the initiation of puberty and testicular function is poorly understood Growth hormone (GH) receptor (R) gene-disrupted mice or GHR gene "knockouts" (GHR-KO) are GH resistant and IGF-I deficient To assess whether the age of sexual maturation is affected by the absence of IGF-I, various parameters of sexual development including testicular and accessory reproductive organ weights, balanopreputial separation, germ cell development, and intratesticular testosterone levels were determined in normal and GHR-KO mice between the ages of 25 and 60 days In addition, at 36 days of age, the testosterone response to luteinizing hormone (LH) treatment was assessed in these mice The results indicate that the balanopreputial separation was delayed 5 days, and a significant increase in the weights of the seminal vesicles (SV) occurred later in GHR-KO mice than in normal animals (between 30 and 35 days and between 35 and 40 days, respectively) Also, the weights of testes and epididymii were significantly reduced in GHR-KO mice The intratesticular testosterone levels and the testosterone response to LH treatment were attenuated in GHR gene-disrupted mice Furthermore, elongated spermatids appeared later in the testes of GHR-KO mice than in the testes of normal mice These results suggest that the absence of IGF-I secretion delays the normal course of sexual maturation in male GHR-KO mice, indicating that IGF-I plays an important role in the initiation of puberty in male mice

Lipoid proteinosis: ultrastructural and biochemical studies.

Abstract: Lipoid proteinosis, a rare autosomal recessive disease, is histologically characterized by deposition of hyalinlike material in the dermis. In this study the pathologic processes of lipoid proteinosis were evaluated by ultrastructural and biochemical analysis of skin and cultured fibroblasts from a patient with classic features of the disease. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of hyalinlike material with a granular appearance interspersed between collagen fibers. Immediately surrounding the blood vessel walls, there was reduplication of basal laminae in an "onionskin" arrangement. The fibroblastic cells in the affected dermis contained peculiar cytoplasmic inclusions. Biochemical studies with the cultured fibroblasts showed that the total synthesis of extracellular matrix components, as detected by the synthesis of radioactive hydroxyproline or the incorporation of 35 SO 4 2- and [ 3 H]glucosamine into macromolecules, was not altered in lipoid proteinosis. However, the relative expression of type I and type III procollagen genes, as detected by molecular hybridizations with pro-α1(I) and pro-α1(III) procollagen complementary deoxyribonucleic acid probes, was markedly altered in cultured fibroblasts. Specifically, the type I procollagen messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels were significantly reduced, resulting in a decreased type I/III procollagen mRNA ratio. Furthermore, the replicative capacity of lipoid proteinosis fibroblasts, as detected by the incorporation of radioactive thymidine, was reduced. Thus the skin fibroblasts from lipoid proteinosis demonstrate ultrastructural changes, as well as alterations in their phenotypic characteristics, and these changes may have relevance to the pathologic processes of this systemic disease affecting the skin and other organs.

Presacral tumors: diagnosis and management.

Abstract: Presacral tumors are uncommon lesions that can be difficult to diagnose because of their nonspecific presenting signs and symptoms. Cross-sectional imaging is essential in evaluating these lesions to determine the optimal surgical approach and the extent of resection. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment as it establishes the diagnosis and prevents the adverse consequences associated with malignant degeneration and secondary bacterial infection. The outcomes for patients with benign presacral tumors are favorable. Although there have been substantial improvements in the prognosis of patients with malignant presacral tumors, the development of newer adjuvant therapies are likely to further improve the oncologic outcomes of malignant presacral tumors such as chordomas and sarcomas.